TROY — Defenseman Casey Borer continues to make progress in his comeback bid from neck surgery as he shed his yellow (non-contact) jersey in River Rats practice this week.
“I’m just getting used to a little more contact,” Borer said after practice on Thursday at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “I was going a little bit with the yellow (jersey) on and doing some of the stuff. I’m full on for now and just kind of waiting to see what will happen.”
Borer, who underwent neck surgery in September, is now awaiting word from another doctor who may give Borer further clearance in his comeback attempt to return to game action.
“I feel sturdy and I’ve worked really hard to get my range of motion back,” he said. “Just the last month, being here and working with (Rats trainer Brian) Maddox and some people in town at the Core Physical Therapy (in Albany), they’ve done a great job to get me back where I feel comfortable.”
Borer suffered the concussion in the team bus crash last Feb. 19 on the Massachusetts Turnpike and had been sidelined until early December, when he began skating in practice again.
“I was telling Petey (goalie Justin Peters) yesterday ‘now it seems like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel — even if it’s just a flashlight,’” Borer said. “There’s something there and that’s exciting. But at the same time, I’ve waited this long and I just want to make sure I’m ready.”
Borer, 24, appeared in 51 games last season with Albany, totaling 10 (4-6) points in his third pro campaign and played in three games with Carolina.